Midlife revolver

[Thumbcocker]

Just kicking this around and seeking input. Suppose a guy really liked his single action revolvers. (didn't comment on his ability to use them) And suppose this guy was still kicking himself for not taking out a loan and getting that TLA #5 when his wife gave him the go ahead 20 years ago.

Assuming he could afford it should he:

1.) Get a Freedom arms or BFR

2.) Send something to Bowen or Clements or Horath or one of those folks to be redone and personalized.

3.) Shoot the bunch of Rugers he has, be glad he has them, and spend the extra money on boolit metal and powder and primers and molds.

What say you?

[06ackley]

Well I say all three choices sound good to me!!

[bedbugbilly]

Before you do anything . . . take the wife out to dinner and a show . . . it's just helps to grease the wheels a little and they tend to let you indulge in your hobby more . . . just sayin' . . :-)

And don't forget they like flowers as well . . .

[45 2.1]

Assuming he could afford it should he:

1.) Get a Freedom arms or BFR The ones I've shot are big, heavy and snort a lot. Try before you buy to see if you like it.

2.) Send something to Bowen or Clements or Horath or one of those folks to be redone and personalized. A long wait, but if you really like something you have, go for it.

3.) Shoot the bunch of Rugers he has, be glad he has them, and spend the extra money on boolit metal and powder and primers and molds. Always a good choice......

4.) Peruse the gunshops around for quite a while until you find something you REALLY like.

[bhn22]

4.) shop the online auctions and find something you really, really want. Then buy it.

[Piedmont]

I'm all in favor of a custom revolver, but only if it is significantly different from the Rugers you are happy with. If you are happy with off the shelf revolvers, and Ruger is making some good ones now, like those .44 Special Flat Tops, then just shoot them and count yourself fortunate to be living while Ruger is providing what you want.

[ballistim]

I'm thinking that at some point I'll need a Super RedHawk shortened to 5.5" and trigger work done by a good smith, plan on setting aside O/T funds over the next year to make it happen.

[Mk42gunner]

There is always Option 5. Take out a really, really big loan and buy the real #5 at auction (in March I believe).

Robert

[Bzcraig]

Rather than repeating, I will just plagiarize post 4 because he took the words right out of my head. How the heck did he do that?

[truckboss]

What I did Tues.Sent my 20 some odd model 83 in 454 to JRH To be born again.When it comes back it will be bigggggger.

[Thor's Daddy]

Assuming he could afford it should he:

1.) Get a Freedom arms or BFR - Solid choice. Practical. If the factory offerings fit the bill, then by all means get one. And enjoy the heck out of it. IMHO, the BFR is going to need a little love from a smith to really make it shine. In the end, with a little more cash outlay, you've got an FA. I'd sell a couple guns to make this happen if it were me.

2.) Send something to Bowen or Clements or Horath or one of those folks to be redone and personalized. - I'm not into owning a lot of guns. That's just me. So if I had a few that I could send down the road, I'd be working toward this choice. But my thinking might be skewed by my experience. My father has a nice little collection of arms, but over the last 20-25 years has really settled into using only one. It is his favorite. And one that he'll end his hunting days with.

I could go the rest of my days with a single custom - and not even a fancy custom necessarily. Blackhawk, custom cylinder and barrel, action work, Bowen rear sight. Probably in 44/45/475. Something I could shoot at putt-putt speeds and still drop a whitetail. Something I could still handle in my 70's. The one to end my days with...

3.) Shoot the bunch of Rugers he has, be glad he has them, and spend the extra money on boolit metal and powder and primers and molds. - I think if you were happy with what you've got right now, you wouldn't be thinking of what you could do differently.


In my own little world of mid-life choices, I'll probably end up sending my BFR to Huntington to caress. Could I buy another gun (or two) instead? Sure. Could I sell some guns and the BFR and get a FA, or maybe even a custom Blackhawk? Sure. But I really like the BFR and with a little work it'll make for a wonderful field arm in my eyes. A bit heavy, but wonderful just the same.

Some guys think more is better. And some guys would trade more, for better.

I'm in the latter group.

[EDK]

Before retirement AND divorce, I had a fairly nice allowance to spend on my toys. My idea was a RUGER with a trigger job and EAGLE GRIPS Gunfighter model grips in buffalo horn or stags or ?

I recently bought a S&W Schofield reproduction after watching Tom Selleck in Crossfire Trail for the millionth time. (Thankfully in 45 Colt so I won't get something hot into it by mistake.) Other purchase was a 45/70 MARLIN Guide Gun.

Otherwise, I'll be watching gunbroker, etc for stainless steel 44 magnum Original Size RUGER Vaqueros in 5.5 or 7.5 inch barrel length. What did John Taffin say about "a pair and a spare" in the models you like.

[MT Chambers]

Freedom Arms are the finest single actions made bar none, can't go wrong, BFRs are very rough in comparison, some of the 5 shot custom BH are my second choice.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

When pontificating such matters -which I do frequently, my advice is that you get out and shoot the guns you have. A lot. During cabin fever season I wonder what gun I want, then when weather permits more range time I find I'm pretty satisfied with the guns I have. But I have a lot of guns. Shop for deals and keep a fund handy for the next purchase.

Custom work -understand your on your own. Money spent is just about never recouped when the gun is sold so once you head down that trail be sure you are committed to writing the check when you get the bill a few years later. If you really want it, then you should do it.

When considering between the BFR and the Freedom Arms, why not purchase and shoot them? If you keep them factory original you can always sell them if you decide you don't want them. You might just need to answer this question by purchasing and shooting them.

[ejcrist]

Just my $0.02, all are good choices but I'd go with #1 and get the FA. I recently ordered, waited, and acquired a model 83 and it's simply the best SA revolver I've ever had. Now I got two more on order.

[TaylorS]

Before you do anything . . . take the wife out to dinner and a show . . . it's just helps to grease the wheels a little and they tend to let you indulge in your hobby more . . . just sayin' . . :-)

And don't forget they like flowers as well . . .

It's easier to get forgiveness than premission!

[1Shirt]

#3 sounds most logical to me!
1Shirt!

[historicfirearms]

I will vote for #2. Someday I'm going to have Hamilton Bowen build me a revolver. All the rest are just guns.

[John Allen]

I know I personally want to get a custom revolver to my liking at some point. I just have to stop spending money on everything else. :bigsmyl2:

[C. Latch]

There is no revolver on earth I like more, in theory, than a large-frame ruger Blackhawk.

However, I do not like the barrel lengths they offer, the Blackhawk I own has a horrible barrel, and several other parts are quite simply of lower quality than they should be, which is to be expected from a company turning out $500 revolvers.

If I could take my current bisley Blackhawk and have it fitted with a slightly oversized 6" to 6.5" barrel in .45 colt, with a 6-shot cylinder with all 6 holes bored the same, with a very slight amount of tuning to the trigger, and a front sight blade of my own design (I already have the bowen rear) I would be quite happy with it. I might be even happier if it was a .44 or .41 caliber.

MR and FA do not make a single action that I really like well enough to even use as a base gun for customization. There are small details of the rugers that I simply prefer, at any price.

I guess that tells you what I would do.

[ktw]

I sold my Blackhawk and bought a Freedom Arms. It was a cheaper than having custom work done and didn't involve waiting a couple of years. I opted for the smaller frame Model 97 over the large frame Model 83. No regrets.

-ktw

[revolvergeek]

Personally I am working on option 3 and aspiring for option 2 one day!

[Hammerhead]

Blackhawks are solid guns, but they always seem to leave something to be desired. I've had 3 and there was always an issue, a bad chamber, lousy front sights, over torqued barrels, thread choked.....
About 15 years ago I got fed up with Ruger and bought a small frame Freedom Arms model 97 in .357. The pain of coughing up $1450 is long gone and I enjoy shooting it now just as much as I did 15 years ago. You just can't brew up a bad load for that gun.

[MGD]

Custom guns are nice, but the wait and headaches make me question the value. I recently got a Freedom 83 and it is nicer than most custom guns. Pay attention to ktw and look at the 97. An investment like a Freedom revolver should be some thing you use, alot! I got a deal on the used market and down load for every day use. Most used freedom 83 454's wil have seen very little use.

[Hammerhead]

disregard

[atr]

#3 be glad,,,,
especially since you have options

[jmort]

I recently got a 4.62" Blackhawk and had it tuned by a top gunsmith. Eagle grips. Love that gun. If I had the $$$, I would get a Freedom Arms 83 in .357.

[ballistim]

I had a 4.75" Blackhawk that had a spring change & trigger job done, new outlined target sights, and it was a very enjoyable gun to shoot using cast RCBS 38-150-SWC loads, couldn't tell you how many I fired through that gun, wish I still had it today.

[gmsharps]

I still have my Rugers and a few Colt SAA's but really enjoy my Freedom Arms revolver. I would try one first to see if you like it or not. It's a big outlay for something that may not be the dream gun.

gmsharps

[jonp]

4.) shop the online auctions and find something you really, really want. Then buy it.

Thats what I did. Hunt around for what interests you and then check gunstores, for sale ads and auctions until you find it and settle for nothing less. The hunt is part of the fun and the satisfaction is enormous

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I shot a RSBH that was sent to Bowen i still have Dream's about it I have never shot a better gun then that one

[Groo]

Groo here
Take one of your rugers and send to Andy Horvath [ call first and discuse the " project"]
He is good , fairly quick, and a fair price. [I have 4, ouch.]
The one I like the best is a 357mag Mondago 3 3/4in fixed sight, converted to 41mag.